The best punch trackers on the market
24th March 2021
By: Eric Armit
The Past Week in Action
Highlights:
–Artur Beterbiev halts Adam Deines in defence of the IBF and WBC light heavyweight titles
-Lawrence Okolie knocks out Krzys Glowacki in six rounds to win the vacant WBO cruiserweight title
-Vergil Ortiz stops Maurice Hooker in seven rounds
-Lee McGregor stops Karim Guerfi in one round to win the European Bantamweight title and Maxi Hughes knocks out Paul Hyland to win the vacant British lightweight title
-Oscar Rivas returns with a win in Quebec City
-Alex Besputin, Angelo Riguccini, Chris Billam-Smith, Anthony Fowler and Denys Berinchyk record wins.
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World Title/Major Shows
20 March
Moscow, Russia:
Light Heavy: Artur Beterbiev (16-0) W TKO 10 Adam Deines (19-2-1).
Welter: Alexander Besputin (14-0,1ND) W RTD 3 Viktor Plotnikov (33-10,1ND).
Beterbiev vs. Deines
After an even start Beterbiev pounds a gutsy Deines to defeat in ten rounds.
Round 1
Beterbiev was quicker with his jab and tried a couple of rights. Deines was short with his until late in the round when he connected with a couple of jabs and a long left. It might have given him the round but with seconds remaining Beterbiev caught Deines with a right. Deines at the same time threw a right of his own but was off balance from the punch from Beterbiev and went down on one knee. He was up quickly and the bell went.
Score: 10-8 Beterbiev
Round 2
Good round from Deines. He was on the back foot letting Beterbiev advance and then darting in with two or three punches and getting out before Beterbiev could respond. He stuck with those tactics and although Bererbiev upped his pace late in the round Deines took the round.
Score: 10-9 Deines Beterbiev 19-18
Round 3
A close round. Beterbiev pressed hard and southpaw Deines was circling the perimeter of the ring and then firing a straight left or coming in behind his jab. Beterbiev landed a couple of rights but Deines had more success.
Score: 10-9 Deines TIED 28-28
Round 4
Beterbiev upped the ante in this one. He was coming in behind a stiff jab and pounding Deines to the body. Deines’s offence had almost disappeared and Beterbiev landed some hurtful uppercuts.
Score: 10-9 Beterbiev Beterbiev 38-37
Round 5
Beterbiev was now in control. Deines was firing occasional straight lefts but too often was pinned to the ropes or in a corner. He was just covering up and Beterbiev was digging shots to the body from both hands and connecting with straight rights and uppercuts.
Score: 10-9 Beterbiev Beterbiev 48-46
Round 6
Now the fight was totally one-sided. Beterbiev was hounding Deines around the ring with Deines often just static against the ropes and letting Beterbiev choose his spots. Beterbiev was mixing his punches from head to body and there was very little coming back from Deines.
Score: 10-9 Beterbiev Beterbiev 58-55
Round 7
Deines was livelier in this round coming forward throwing long lefts but two body punches from Beterbiev sent him back into his shell. Beterbiev was connecting with clubbing shots from both hands and Deines was slowing and tiring but hanging in there even if not doing much.
Score: 10-9 Beterbiev Beterbiev 68-64
Round 8
A slower round. Beterbiev continued to force Deines back with short hooks and uppercuts with Deines firing straight lefts but his punches had no power. The clubbing shots from Beterbiev were breaking Deines down and it was just a question of how much punishment Deines was willing to take and how much the referee was willing to let him take.
Score: 10-9 Beterbiev Beterbiev 78-73
Round 9
It was unrelenting punishment for Deines in this one. Beterbiev was dismantling the challenger punch by punch and the fight could have been stopped. Deines fired back just enough to stay in the fight but he was exhausted and taking brutal punishment.
Score: 10-9 Beterbiev Beterbiev 88-72
Round 10
Beterbiev continued to land heavily until a short left hook detonated on Deines chin. He took a couple of step forward and then collapsed on his knees. He was up at seven but turned to his corner. They were waiving a towel but the referee motioned them away and then looked at Deines and stopped the fight.
Beterbiev, 36, was defending the WBC and IBF titles and has yet to be taken the distance in any fight. He has said he would come down to super middle for a fight against Saul Alvarez but that is not on the cards. Sergey Kovalev has offered to fight Beterbiev but Beterbiev has shown no interest in that. The most likely fight is with the winner of Joe Smith vs. Maxim Vlasov for the vacant WBO title in Tulsa on 10 April which would unify three titles. There would be little interest in fights against WBC No 1 Jean Pascal or IBF No 1 Meng Fanlong.
A fight with Dmitry Bivol the holder of the secondary WBA title would be an attraction but Bivol is due to defend his title against Craig Richards on 1 May and both the WBC and IBF will push for Beterbiev to meet his mandatory obligations. Russian-born German Deines,30 was competitive for a couple of rounds but after that his limitations were evident. The only fighter he has met who was even remotely near the ratings was Meng Fanlong and he lost that by wide margins on all three cards so he will struggle to get another title shot.
Besputin vs. Plotnikov
Besputin eases his way back with victory over Plotnikov. Besputin was scoring often and heavily in the first with Plotnikov just soaking up punishment. Besputin upped his pace and continued his onslaught over the second and third and Plotnikov decided not to come out for the fourth. First fight for Besputin since decisioning Radzhab Butaev for the vacant secondary WBA title in November 2019 only to be stripped of the title after testing positive for a banned substance. Eight losses in a row for 42-year-old Ukrainian Plotnikov who came in as a late replacement.
London, England:
Cruiser: Lawrence Okolie (16-0) W KO 6 Krzys Glowacki (31-3).
Cruiser: Chris Billam-Smith (12-1) W PTS 10 Vasil Ducar (9-4-1).
Super Welter: Anthony Fowler(14-1) W KO 3 Jorge Fortea (21-3-1).
Okolie vs. Glowacki
Okolie outclasses and kayo’s a disappointing Glowacki in six rounds to win the vacant WBO title.
Round 1
Okolie was using his 6’5” height and longer reach to keep Glowacki on the end of his jab. Glowacki was padding forward but waiting too long to throw a punch and Okolie was threading jabs through the Poles defence and scoring with quick rights. It was good to see the referee give Glowacki a stern telling off for punches to the back of Okolie’s head.
Score: 10-9 Okolie
Round 2
Okolie stuck with what was working for him. He kept Glowacki on the end of his jab getting past Glowacki’s guard and throwing single rights and moving. Glowacki was too slow to cut the ring off and when he did get inside Okolie tied him up. Glowacki was warned for an attempted butt.
Score: 10-9 Okolie Okolie 20-18
Round 3
Okolie continued to fight on the back foot. He kept his jab in Glowacki’s face sometimes flicking the jab and on others ramming it home and then landing single rights. Glowacki was unable to get past the jab and again was not pressing hard enough or cutting off the ring
Score: 10-9 Okolie Okolie 30-27
Round 4
The fight changed in this round. After scoring with jabs early Okolie began to follow his rights with left hooks. His confidence was high and he started to take the fight to Glowacki connecting with a series of rights that had Glowacki under pressure. So far Glowacki had hardly landed a punch and was warned again for a punch to the back of Okolie’s head.
Score: 10-9 Okolie Okolie 40-36
Round 5
Okolie boxed his way through this one. It was almost exclusively jabs with only the occasional right. Glowacki was too slow again to cut off the ring and just soaked up the jabs and a cut was opened over the right eye of the Pole who threw a punch after the bell.
Score: 10-9 Okolie 50-45
Round 6
After landing some jabs Okolie unleashed a straight right that dropped Glowacki on his back, He made it to his feet at nine but turned away from the referee and the fight was stopped.
Commanding performance by the 28-year-old from Hackney with his thirteenth win by KO/TKO. On paper former champion Glowacki was a big step up in quality of opposition for Okolie but Glowacki showed nothing. There are not that many good fights to be had at cruiser although the winner of the eliminator between Thabiso Mchunu and Evgeny Tischenko would be a better test than Glowacki.
The 34-year-old Pole looked very shop-worn. He had been stopped in three rounds by Mairis Breidis for the WBO title in June 2019 in what was also a WBSS semi-final. A return was ordered by the WBO due to a knockdown scored by Breidis using his elbow. The WBO ordered a return then stripped Breidis when instead he fought Yunier Dorticos in the final of the WBSS. Perhaps 21 months of inactivity has caused a deterioration in Glowacki but we won’t know until he fights again.
Billam-Smith vs. Ducar
Billam-Smith given some valuable ring time by Czech Ducar. Billam-Smith took a couple of rounds to settle with Ducar hustling him hard. From the third Billam-Smith began to find his range and he put Ducar down with a right in the fourth. Ducar continued to press in the fifth but Billam-Smith found the target with a body punch in the sixth and Ducar was forced to take a count.
The Czech did not crumble and gave Billam-Smith some rough moments testing his chin a couple of times but Billam-Smith controlled the action on his way to a wide unanimous decision. Scores 99-90 twice and 97-92 Commonwealth champion Billam-Smith added the WBA Continental title to his collection with this victory. Former IBO title challenger Ducar did well to last the distance after that knockdown in the sixth.
Fowler vs. Fortea
Fowler blast out Fortea in three. Fowler quickly had Fortea on the back foot and under fire. He was landing long shots to the body and overhand rights with Forties only showing any aggression late in the round. In the second Fortea stood and exchanged punches more. Both connected with hard rights but Fowler was putting his punches together and again Fortea spent much of the tome on the retreat.
In the third Fowler controlled the action with his jab and late in the round he connected with a left hook that sent Fortea down on his rump. Fortea was up at eight but when the action started again a right to the head sent him stumbling across the rings and down on his back resting against the ropes and he was unable to get up before the referee counted to ten.
Fowler was defending the WBA International title for the first time and showed the power that has given him eleven quick wins. Fortea had won 8 of his last 9 fights and in the losing bout in that run had gone twelve rounds with IBF No 1 Bakhram Murtazaliev so a good performance from Fowler.
Fort Worth, TX, USA:
Welter: Vergil Ortiz (17-0) W TKO 7 Maurice Hooker (27-2-3).
Super Light: Alex Martin (16-3) W PTS 10 Luis Alberto Hernandez (21-1).
Ortiz vs. Hooker
Ortiz breaks down, floors and halts Hooker although the finish is brought about by an injury to Hooker.
In the first Ortiz was bobbing and weaving coming forward behind a high guard and getting past Hooker’s jabs to score with straight rights and hooks from both hands. Hooker was catching Ortiz with counters on the way in but not able to keep him out and Ortiz was landing scorching hooks to the body. Ortiz kept up the pressure in the second. He was focusing hard on the body again ramming home punches downstairs.
Hooker was finding the target with his jabs and hooks and landing more than Ortiz but the power was coming from Ortiz and he shook Hooker with a right just before the bell. Hooker upped his pace over the third and fourth as he shed the rust from fifteen months out of the ring. He was raking Ortiz with jabs and landing sharp counters stopping Ortiz in his tracks with a right in the fourth but with Ortiz getting through with left hooks to the body. Ortiz was ferocious in the fifth. He had Hooker backing up under a relentless body attack.
Hooker countered occasionally but then the body punches from Ortiz would have him retreating again. In the sixth a left to the body and a right to the head had Hooker backing off across the ring to a corner and two rights to the head put him down on his hands and knees. When he then rolled over to a sitting position it looked as though he was not going to get up but he arose at seven and then chose to stand and exchange punches for the ten seconds left in the round.
As they swopped punches in the seventh a left from Ortiz landed and Hooker turned away from the action and went down on a knee clutching his right wrist. He indicated to the referee he could not continue so the referee stopped the count and waived the fight over. Ortiz wins the vacant WBO International title and makes it 17 wins by KO/TKO in 17 fights.
I guess his WBA gold belt might also have been on the line but who cares. Hooker gave the 22-year-old Texan a good test in an entertaining fight becoming only the second fighter to take Ortiz past the sixth round. He has wins over Mauricio Herrera, Antonio Orozco, Brad Solomon and Samuel Vargas and by 2022 could be ready for Terence Crawford or Errol Spence.
Former WBO champion Hooker certainly had the skill but not the power to match Ortiz. His only other loss was a sixth round stoppage against Jose Carlos Ramirez in July 2019 in a match to unify the WBC and WBO title. He can still be a factor at super light or welter.
Martin vs. Hernandez
With a sparkling display of skill Martin dazzles Hernandez and takes away his unbeaten tag. Hernandez spent most of the evening trying vainly to hunt Martin down. The Illinois southpaw boxed cleverly on the back foot sliding away from Hernandez’s efforts to trap him and threading jabs through Hernandez’s guard and banging home some heavy punches of his own.
Hernandez had no back-up plan and even when he started to have some success in closing Martin down over the late rounds Martin stood and interchanged punches and was more than a match for Hernandez and won widely. Scores 100-90 twice and 99-91 for Martin.
He lost three hard fights in 2017 and was inactive in 2018 before scoring one win in 2019 and one last year so there was nothing in his record to make him a big risk for Hernandez particularly as Hernandez’s last three wins had been scored over fighters with combined records of 55-4. At 24 Hernandez has time to rebound.
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16 March
Quebec City, Quebec:
Heavy: Oscar Rivas (27-1) W RTD 3 Sylvain Louis (8-6)
Rivas blows away Louis in three rounds. Rivas shook the lanky Louis with an overhand right in the first and it was obvious Louis could not handle the Colombian’s power. A right sent Louis into the ropes which held him up but he bounced back so quickly the referee did not give him a count.
Rivas continued to hunt Louis down in the second and floored him with a right to the chest. Louis was up before the count was completed and fired back. Rivas scored heavily with left hooks in the third and at the end of the round Louis retired complaining of trouble breathing. First fight for the 33-year-old Rivas since losing on points to Dillian Whyte in July 2019. He is now aiming to go on and fight Kevin Lerena to become the first holder of the new Bridgerweight title.
Former Canadian cruiser champion Louis had taken Rivas to a split decision back in 2012 but in his last fight in September 2016 was knocked out in nine rounds by Denton Daley for the Canadian and Commonwealth cruiser titles.
18 March
Salinas, Puerto Rico:
Super Fly: Jose Martinez (21-1-3) DREW 10 Israel Gonzalez (26-4-1).
Light: Angel Fierro (18-1-1) W KO 6 Alberto Machado (22-3).
Martinez vs. Gonzalez
Martinez and Gonzalez end all even after ten entertaining rounds. Mexican Gonzalez managed to make his longer reach and better skills tell over the first three rounds. Martinez was rumbling forward looking to work inside but good defensive movement and counters gave Gonzalez the edge. From the fourth to the sixth Martinez broke through with Gonzalez under heavy pressure and holding to stay in the fight.
The seventh was close and they fought hard through the last three rounds. Martinez has no reverse gear and Gonzalez was forced to stand and trade and he seemed to have just done enough to edge it but a draw was a fair result. Scores 96-94 Gonzalez and 95-95 twice.
Although the younger man at 24 Gonzalez had more depth in his experience having lost in world title shots against Jerwin Ancajas for the IBF super fly title on a tenth round stoppage and on points against both Khalid Yafai and Roman Gonzalez for the WBA title. Martinez, 28, had been 20-0-2 until being knocked out in two rounds by Aston Palicte in January 2019 bur had rebounded with a stoppage of Yeison Vargas in February last year.
Fierro vs. Machado
Mexican Fierro gets off the canvas twice to break down and kayo former WBA super feather title holder Machado in six rounds. Machado made a great start. He dropped Fierro with a right hook in the first and then dropped with the same punch in the second. Machado dominated the third but Fierro started to roll in the fourth.
He was rocked by another right hook but for most of the round he was taking the fight to Machado and scoring with hard shots to the body. Fierro continued to land heavily in the fifth and Machado was coming apart. In the sixth Fierro shook Machado with a couple of punches and then landed a ferocious left that put Machado down and he failed to beat the count. Huge win for the 22-year-ol Fierro and his fifteenth inside the distance finish.
He had lost to Alex Martin in January last year and Machado was another couple of levels above Martin. He had been preparing for a fight in Tijuana but took this fight at two week’s notice when Hector Tanajara fell ill. His dance of delight was a sight to see. Machado, 30, had lost his secondary WBA title in 2019 against Andrew Cancio and then been knocked out in three rounds in a return match. He was rated WBO 12/WBA 13 but three inside the distance defeats in his last four fights puts his career under question.
19 March
Bardez, India:
Super Middle: Artysh Lopsan (5-1-1) W TKO 5 Vijender Singh (12-1).
Russian Lopsan upsets the odds with stoppage of Indian star Singh. The 6’4” Lopsan boxed well at distance in the first but Singh upped his pace in the second and connected with a right to the head that sent Lopsan down. Lopsan bounced straight up and then put Singh under heavy pressure in the third.
The fourth saw Singh already exhausted and floored three times. Singh tried to trade punches with Lopsan in the fifth but a left to then head stunned him and a left hook sent him down. Singh sat out most of the count on his knees and when he did get up he indicated to the referee he was finished to save the referee having to make the decision.
There was nothing in his record that made Lopsan look a risky fight as apart from Pavel Silyagin who stopped him the rest of his opponents had been substandard but because of Singh’s name he will probably get a couple of good pay days. Singh has made a mess of his career.
The 2008 Olympic bronze medal winner had beaten Badou Jack, Rona Gavril and Terrell Gausha in the amateurs but he made some bad decisions as a pro and although he is committed to continuing at 35 he will struggle.
Guasave, Mexico:
Welter: Alessandro Riguccini (26-0) W TKO 2 Johan Perez (26-8-2).
Unbeaten Italian Riguccini marches on with win over Perez. The Mexican-based Italian pressed hard in the first finding Perez an elusive target but he began to get thought late in the round. In the second Riguccini moved in and connected with a wicked left hook to Perez’s ribs. Perez dropped to his hands and knees in pain and was unable to get up. Fifteenth inside the distance finish in a row for Riguccini and his twenty-second in total.
He retains the WBC interim Silver title. He is rated No 26 by the WBC but not rated by any of the other bodies. Perez, a former WBA interim super light title holder, has fallen into the habit of losing every testing fight dropping his interim title in 2014.
Bolton, England:
Bantam: Lee McGregor (10-0) W TKO 1 Karim Guerfi (29-5,1ND).
Light: Maxi Hughes (23-5-2) W TKO 8 Paul Hyland Jr (20-3).
McGregor vs. Guerfi
McGregor obliterates champion Guerfi to win the European title. McGregor made his intentions clear driving home a right hook to the body before the sound of the bell had faded. Guerfi fired back with a right but McGregor drove him to the ropes and again landed a right to the body.
They traded punches but with less than a minute gone a left to the body had Guerfi turning away and dropping to his knees. He crawled to the ropes and pulled himself up but just moments later another left to the body saw him collapse on his side. Guerfi was up early and tried to punch with McGregor but was again hurt by body punches before a left to the head floored him for the third time.
He tried to rise but dropped back to the canvas and then managed to get upright but was wobbly and the referee waived the fight over after just 2:43. On paper this was a tough test for McGregor the British and Commonwealth champion but he simply blew Guerfi away. The Frenchman had challenged for both the interim WBA and IBO titles and was in his second reign as European title and rated IBF 8(7).
Hughes vs. Hyland
Hughes wins the vacant British title with kayo as Hyland forgets the rules to protect yourself at all times. The taller Hyland was coming forward behind his guard with southpaw Hughes showing some good defensive work. Hyland landed a couple of left hooks to the body and Hughes replied with a right to the head which rattled Hyland.
In the second and third Hughes boxed cleverly on the back foot and got through time and again with hooks to the body. Hyland chose to stand inside and exchange punches with Hughes in the fourth and fifth but was taking punishment from body punches. He did better when he boxed more in the sixth.
Hyland was boxing in the seventh until he decided to match Hughes punch-for punch inside. A series of shots from Hughes had Hyland reeling and he was in deep trouble but kept fighting even though clearly exhausted. In the eighth two lefts to the body had Hyland reeling again. Hyland decided a punch from Hughes was low and turned away walking towards a corner with his hands down.
The referee waived them to carry on so Hughes ran after Hyland and from behind Hyland hooked a right to the chin that Hyland did not see coming and he went down on his back and was counted out. Not good to see a fighter kayoed by a punch thrown from behind his back but Hyland only has himself to blame and the speed with which Hughes crossed the ring was too quick for the referee to intervene even if he had wanted to.
Hughes adds the British title to the WBC International one he holds and this might see him improve on his WBC 15 rating. This was Hyland’s first fight since being beaten by Francesco Patera for the European title in June 2019.
Charleroi, Belgium:
Super Light: Antoine Vanackere (16-1) W KO 1 Ivan Njegac (12-17).
Super Light: Ray Moylette (12-1) W KO 1 Adam Walas (1-4).
Light: Niall O’Connor (6-0) W PTS 6 Angelo Turco (8-18-2).
Heavy: Niall Kennedy (14-2-1) W KO 5 Hrvoje Bozinovic (2-23).
Middle: Craig O’Brien (12-2) W PTS 6 Daniel Przewieslik (2-12-1).
Vanackere vs. Njegac
Early night for Belgian southpaw Vanackere and a left to the body puts Njegac down and out. All over in 64 seconds. Eighth consecutive win for the 26-year-old Belgian champion. Seven is the number for Njegac but in his case it is losses in a row.
Moylette vs. Walas
Moylette wipes out novice Walas inside a round. Easy outing for Moylette against substitute opponent. Moylette put Walas down with a body punch in the first Walas made it to his feet but a second knockdown was enough. First fight for the former top amateur since losing his unbeaten record when being outpointed by Mexican Christian Uruzquieta in December 2018. Disgraceful match with Pole Walas having failed to last three minutes in each of his five losses.
O’Connor vs. Turco
In one real fight on this show O’Connor given all he can handle. by local fighter Turco. O’Connor was generally in control but could never subdue Turco who proved a much better fighter than his record showed. Turco made many of the rounds close but O’Connor’s body punching was his edge and he looked a clear winner but had to settle for a split decision.
Scores 59-56, 58-57 for O’Connor and 58-57 for Turco. O’Connor had won his last four inside the distance but his last fight was in December 2018 so the shelves needed dusting. Ten losses in a row for Turco but he has only been stopped three times.
Kennedy vs. Bozinovic
No useful ring time for Kennedy as he disposes of another pitiful substitute. After a slow start Kennedy began to land heavily to the body. In the third he dropped Bozinovic twice and the farce was over. After inside the distance losses to Devin Vargas and Alen Babic Kennedy needed a win but even that does not justify this rubbish. Twelve inside the distance losses for Croatian Bozinovic
O’Brien vs. Przewieslik
O’Brien has to work hard to win this one. Despite a poor record Przewieslik came to fight and both were rocked on occasion. O’Brien looked to have built a lead but Przewieslik had a good fifth hurting O’Brien with a body punch. O’Brien tired in the last but did enough to win.
Scores 59-56 and 58-57 for O’Brien and 58-56 for Przewieslik. First fight for 15 months for O’Brien whose losses have been in tough asks against Anthony Fowler and Kieron Conway. Ninth consecutive defeat for Przewieslik.
21 March
Brovari, Ukraine:
Light: Denys Berinchyk (15-0) W TKO 3 Jose Sanchez (18-2).
After yet another bizarre ring entrance Berinchyk does the business between the ropes as he batters Chilean Sanchez to defeat in three rounds. Berinchyk was his usual all-out aggressive self. Sanchez did well to get though the first two rounds but in the third Berinchyk drove him to a corner and connected with a succession of head punches until the referee stopped the fight.
The 32-year-old Ukrainian was making the fifth defence of the WBO International title. He is rated No 3 by the WBO and No 6 by the IBF but his name never comes up when a world title fight is discussed. Sanchez has built his record against sub-standard domestic and South American rivals.
Berinchyk’s ring entrance for this fight saw him carried to ringside on a stretcher with his right arm and leg in huge plaster casts accompanied by two sexily dressed “nurses”. The arm cast was so big that when he tried to get off the stretched the weight of the cast tipped him off the stretch and on to the floor.
Fight of the week (Significance): Artur Beterbiev’s win over Adam Deines clears the way for a unification of the version of the light heavyweight title later this year.
Fight of the week (Entertainment): Vergil Ortiz vs. Maurice Hooker was packed with quality work from both with Hooker’s willingness to stand and trade making for plenty of entertainment. Honourable mention to Hector Sosa vs. Ckari Mansilla who provide ten rounds of fiercely competitive fighting.
Fighter of the week: I go for Lawrence Okolie for the way he outclassed Krzys Glowacki with honourable mentions to both Beterbiev and Ortiz-oh and fellow-Scot Lee McGregor for his one round destructing of Karim Guerfi.
Punch of the week: Plenty of good examples this week but I go for the left from Angel Fierro that put Alberto Machado down and out.
Upset of the week: Fierro’s victory over Machado was the shock result of the week with honourable mention to Alex Martin for his win over 21-0 Luis Hernandez
Prospect watch: Super Middleweight Pavel Silyagin (7-0) showed real class in outpointing unbeaten Azizbek Abdugofurov. He went 10-1 in fights in the WSB including a victory over Joshua Buatsi so worth following.
Observations
I am considering setting up a sanctioning body to control the use of nicknames. This week we had Filipino Nicardo Calamba with a 9-32-5 record and 27 losses by KO/TKO using the nickname “Destroyer”. With a record like that he has been down so often I would allocate him the nickname of “Submarine”.
I will be doing ratings of the nicknames and naturally will expect some under the table payments for certain nicknames and will encourage the multi-use of a nicknames, secondary nicknames, interim nicknames, franchise nicknames and emeritus nicknames and will be sourcing nicknames from Asia, the Pacific, Europe etc. Watch this space for further announcement of this service that boxing has needed so badly for so many years.
I might have to have a word with Maxi Hughes. I noted he has the words “Granddad” on his shorts which I think sends the wrong message. Since he is not actually using it as a nickname I have claimed the copy- right as I am intending to auction that nickname off to Mike Tyson or Roy Jones but would consider a bid from Manny Pacquiao.
Yet another new venue with the Vijender Singh vs. Artysh Lopsan being held on the roof of the “Majestic Pride Casino ship.
There was an invasion of Europe by fighters from Ireland this week with Ray Moylette, Niall O’Connor, Niall Kennedy, Craig O’Brien and Rhys Moran fighting on a show in Belgium and another batch fighting in Luxembourg bet they were disappointed to find the pubs were shut there as well.
